Latest From Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa

Published: December - 2006

The Government of Kenya has decided not to lift the ban on hunting. An announcement last month to that effect by Vice-President Moody Awori effectively forecloses any positive action until at least the next national elections, which are scheduled for next year. Even then, getting the government to ok hunting may be difficult because of the power of the anti-hunting lobby.

The influence of anti-hunters was on clear display at the press conference where the vice-president made his announcement last month. In fact, in his speech, he made specific reference to International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and to a 10 million shilling donation that group had just made toward the construction of an electric fence designed to reduce human/animal conflicts. He also acknowledged receipt of vehicles and equipment for capturing animals. His speech was filled with the philosophical clap-trap of anti-hunters.

We have a responsibility to look after wildlife for the benefit of Kenyans and the whole world. There should be no sport hunting or artificial culling of the animals. Instead, we should allow nature to regulate the numbers to ensure the numbers are well-balanced with the environment and guard against climate change, the vice president said, going on to wrongly claim that Kenya is among the few places in the world where animal species have not been depleted.

IFAW President, Fredrick O'regan, didn't miss the opportunity to get in a dig at hunters. He called the sport elitist and of no benefit to local communities.

In Zimbabwe, as this issue goes to press, we have just been copied on some press reports indicating the government has seized a number of hunting trophies and arrested some hunting professionals in connection with faulty or absent paperwork and alleged efforts to externalize currency. The latter term refers to the practice of keeping money offshore illegally, or out of the country.

We immediately called our best contacts in Zimbabwe, who had not seen the press accounts we have received, but they cautioned........(continued)